Two years ago when our family entered Lewy land with my sweet man, like the rest of you, many, many said to me take care of yourself, finally one day I said "How, I don't know how and started crying". Every day now I make a conscience effort to take care of me first. Starting with pills in the morning. I used to make sure I got his pills out and organized for the day. Now I make sure I get my pills out first. It's really hard to take care of yourself. I know the daily pill organising is just a minor thing but I try whenever I can. I try to take care of myself first. Kind of like in the airplane when they tell you in case of an emergency put your own O2 on first so you can help someone else.
Mary

Jeanne, I just LOVE this series of posts!!!! these are all great ideas!

My contribution:
Find something or someone that will make you laugh or someone that you can make laugh. Laughter is wonderful medicine for the heart and soul.

And Bernie, as soon as it gets above freezing around here, I am planning a good "hair comb" in my car! Love it!

Pat

Frank usually goes to bed between 6-6:30 so I call the next few hours "my" time. Sometimes I decide to go to bed at 7-7:30, because I am free to do what I want with "my" time.

My miracle pillow is a contoured pillow, where the bottom fits under the neck. You can purchase one in any department store. Well worth the money. I too suffered with neck pain until I started using this type of pillow. Bernie

i'm still learning is ok, to take care of myself...somehow i feel guilty or i forget or time runs out or or or ?????
but the one thing i do have. is my painting.. even if i only get 5 minutes, its like a mini vacation...
cindi

Jeanne, you might want to check out my post on "Tips for Controlling Stressors" for another list on how to take care of yourself as a caregiver. There is some repetition, but some new items as well.
Pat

Cindi
See new post in Respite, Topic Artists, asking you about your art.

Leone,
I am sitting here scratching my head and trying to figure this previous post of yours out, this is NOT a professional advice forum, so I would think if people are looking for Professional advice they should be asking their Doctors and not come to the forums at all ! If one is coming to the forums for advice on medications or behavior issues we all need to take it from its source of a caregiver not a professional !

Irene, I can't speak for Leone, of course, but I took her comments to mean not to listen to uninformed laypersons. I can see how it is a way of taking care of oneself to ignore uninformed busybodies who are trying to give unhelpful advice. I have a few family members who are like that and that's exactly what I do--tune them out and do what I think best.

Julianne

You're welcome, Leone. Well-meaning friends with unsolicited advice can be really hard to take, especially in times of stress.

Julianne

Julianne, and Leone,

I understand what you are saying now but I actually thought it was meant for the forum members and I just didn't want it to blow up here (which has happened in the past ) because there are so many great forum members with great tips and advice but again we are all just layman trying to help one another through a very rough illness !